Drift Barakat takes the hand of Oksana Fang before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
The youngest aboard is now Hedda Quill, minutes old, asleep. 959 souls.
Departure Day, year 125. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
Yamini Salazar, 87, generation 2, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Born in the middle watch: Karim Shen, generation 5. The ship holds 959 souls tonight.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 617th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
Maintenance sweep of Ring C complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
I compare today's star field against day one's. The constellations have begun, very slightly, to come apart. Nobody else will look; that is what I am for.
Last shift for Beatriz Sharma, who joined Medical half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
The schools release Ludmila Thorvaldsen to Drive. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
A child in Ring D asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Layla Shen retires in the middle watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
All boards green. I count 958 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A child in Ring D asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Ragnhild Zhao has made a play called “Three Lanterns Turning.” Asked what it means, she says it means about nine years of evenings.
Yasmin Pemberton is delivered of a daughter at brightening. The child is called Kestrel.
Remembrance. All names read since the last one — held in silence in every ring at the same hour. I keep the lights low until it is done.
Zikora Shen retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Jaroslav Navarrete and Samira Quill, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Ingrid Jaber stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Life Systems.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 124, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
After 81 years, Maksim Fang has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
All boards green. I count 958 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A birth in Ring B: Yueqin, girl, generation 5. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Census check: 957 souls, 112 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Arne Fang is made Chief of Fabrication, and marks it by standing the ordinary shift anyway.
Suyin Quill retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
A first shift for Rania Tväten, sixteen: bay gardener, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 515th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
A new tale-cycle from Funmilayo Thorvaldsen — “A patient winter.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
The youngest aboard is now Nandini Quill, minutes old, asleep. 957 souls.
Umbra Aaberg retires late in the second watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Chief of Hydroponics falls to Vikram Aaberg, who accepts with a nod and a full docket.
Milena Kowalczyk retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Too soon, at 52: Ibrahim Yan. The commons fills at dimming with those who knew him.
Last shift for Winifred Petrov, who joined Fabrication half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Fernanda Petrov retires late in the second watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
A new play from Pearl Nwosu — “Ladders of Ring A.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
The youngest aboard is now Zaid Shen, minutes old, asleep. 957 souls.
Born on the first watch: Mohan Shen, generation 5. The ship holds 956 souls tonight.
A new mural from Florence Kong — “Wheels of Ring C.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
A new mural from Gyre Tväten — “Small Lantern (Year 124).” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Last shift for Keel Nwosu, who joined Life Systems half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A first shift for Quill Kowalczyk, sixteen: irrigation tech, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
Gyre Diallo is delivered of a son late in the second watch. The child is called Mohan.
Simisola Valdivia stands down from Life Systems at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Sixty-eight years: Lars Yan hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring A stands ready.
Census check: 954 souls, 110 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Ruth Tväten stands down from Ecology at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Ulyana Petrov, 95. It is little enough.